Trump in Scotland: Important Talks with von der Leyen and Starmar

US President Donald Trump arrived yesterday evening, Friday, July 25, at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow, on a weekend visit combining work and leisure.

Upon landing of the presidential plane, Trump headed directly to his famous Turnberry golf resort, owned by his family, amidst exceptional security measures being prepared by Scottish police in anticipation of protests in several areas such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Although Trump's schedule on Saturday and Sunday did not include official commitments, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an upcoming meeting with him on Sunday in Scotland, in an attempt to finalize an agreement on customs duties between the United States and the European Union.

It is also expected that Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a meeting whose details have not been disclosed yet, amid tensions over the customs duties issue.

Last May, Washington and London announced reaching a trade agreement, but Britain is still awaiting confirmation from Trump, who said upon arrival that "the time has come to celebrate" the agreement, confirming that he will discuss with Starmer "other matters", but he indicated that permanent exemptions on steel and aluminum tariffs are unlikely unless applied to everyone.

Politically, the war in the Gaza Strip is expected to be discussed during Trump's meeting with Starmer, amid increasing calls within the British Parliament to recognize the state of Palestine, amidst varying positions on the issue.

Among the controversial issues raised during Trump's arrival in Scotland is the case of businessman Jeffrey Epstein, who is accused of sexual crimes, where Trump denied knowing that his name was included in court files that charged Epstein in 2019.

This comes amid criticism from Trump supporters regarding lack of transparency, as the Wall Street Journal was deprived of its correspondent seat on the presidential plane on the trip.

On the topic of immigration, Trump called on European countries to organize their affairs and described the flow of illegal immigrants as a "terrible invasion", praising the deportation policies he follows in the United States.

It is worth mentioning that Trump will return to the United Kingdom in September on a state visit at the invitation of King Charles III, in an atmosphere expected to be more cordial.